ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Education
Apprehensions regarding recommended shift of grant-giving functions to Ministry under proposed HEI Act 2018 are purely misplaced: HRD Ministry
This is in reference to the draft Higher Education Commission of India  Act 2018 and the subsequent comments made in various sections of Press about the proposed shift of the grant-giving functions away from the UGC as a part of the its proposed transformation.
The Ministry of HRD has clarified that no such final decision has yet been taken to shift the grant function to the Ministry even though the recommendation about separating the Regulator and grant-giving entity has been made by many an expert committee in the past, and is rooted in sound principles of Governance.
The Government is keen to ensure that the grant-giving process shall be purely merit-based, online, objective system that assures both transparency and efficiency with least human interface. Such IT systems are already operating in managing much bigger funding schemes like IMPRINT and RUSA flawlessly, and therefore can be put in place to manage the UGC schemes easily.
This is to assure that if there is a successor system to the current grant-giving system of UGC, the same will be operated in the most unbiased and impartial manner. The apprehensions in this regard are purely misplaced.
Ministry of Defence
Swarnim Vijay Varsh Victory Flame to reach Andaman and Nicobar Islands on 03 August
Key Highlights
- India commemorates 50th anniversary of historic victory in 1971 war as ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’
- On July 31, 2021 the Victory Flame would be handed over to the Andaman and Nicobar Command at Chennai
- The Victory Flame will be in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands between August 03-28, 2021
- In December 1971, Armed Forces secured a decisive victory over Pakistan and a new nation Bangladesh was born
India is commemorating 50th anniversary of the historic victory in 1971 war as ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’. The celebrations commenced with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi lighting the Victory Flame on December 16, 2020. The Victory Flame was lit from the eternal flame of the National War Memorial and signifies the bravery of our heroic soldiers during the war. Since then the Victory Flame is travelling across the length and breadth of India and a large number of commemorative events have been conducted during its journey.
On July 31, 2021 the Victory Flame would be handed over to the Andaman and Nicobar Command  at Chennai. The Victory Flame would be received by the Joint-Services team of ANC and on the same day it will travel on an Indian Navy Ship from Chennai to Port Blair. At Port Blair Naval jetty, the Victory flame would be accorded a grand reception and a Joint-Services Guard of Honour.
The Victory Flame will be in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands between August 03-28, 2021. During this period a large number of events have been jointly planned by the Civil Administration and ANC. The events would witness participation from service veterans as well as the local population, particularly youth. The Victory Flame will travel to all the major Islands of Andaman and Nicobar before being handed over to the Eastern Naval Command at Port Blair on August 28, 2021.
In December 1971, the Indian Armed Forces had secured a decisive victory over Pakistan Army, and a new nation Bangladesh was born. The victory also resulted into the largest Military surrender post World War-II wherein approximately 93,000 soldiers of the Pakistan Army surrendered to the Indian Army.
Ministry of Finance
Expert Committee to be set up to recommend the structure and required flow of funds through development finance institutions
Regulation Authority over Housing Finance Sector proposed to be given to RBI
Separation of NPS Trust from PFRDA proposed
Six months' Partial Credit Guarantee proposed to be provided to Public Sector Banks 
The Government has announced its intention to invest Rs 100 lakh crore in infrastructure over the next five years. The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the Union Budget 2019-20 in Parliament today, informed that to this end, it is proposed to set up an Expert Committee to study the current situation relating to long-term finance and our past experience with development finance institutions and recommend the structure and required flow of funds through development finance institutions.”
The Finance Minister said that for “efficient and conducive regulation of the housing sector, it is proposed to return the regulation authority over the Housing Finance Sector from NHB to RBI. Necessary proposals have been placed in the Finance Bill.”
Keeping in view the wider interest of the subscribers and to maintain arm’s length relationship of the NPS Trust with PFRDA, steps are proposed to be taken to separate the NPS Trust from PFRDA with appropriate organizational structure. To facilitate on-shoring of international insurance transactions and to enable opening of branches by foreign reinsurers in the International Financial Services Centre, the Finance Minister said that it is proposed to reduce Net Owned Fund requirement from Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 1,000 crore.
“For purchase of high-rated pooled assets of financially sound NBFCs, amounting to a total of Rs One Lakh Crore during the current financial year, the Government proposes to provide one time six months' partial credit guarantee to Public Sector Banks for first loss of up to 10%. To bring more participants, especially NBFCs, not registered as NBFCs-Factor, on the TReDS platform, amendment in the Factoring Regulation Act, 2011 is necessary and steps will be taken to allow all NBFCs to directly participate on the TReDS platform” the Union Finance Minister informed.
Ministry of Science & Technology
New findings on conjectures used in number theory with significance in cryptography on the cards
Interesting new findings on theoretical speculations in number theory may soon emerge from India. Scientists are working on new cases of Stark conjectures, hypothetical information about the leading terms of L-functions in number theory. These conjectures have direct applications to Hilbert’s 12th problem, one of the central problems in algebraic number theory. This theory has significance in cryptography, for instance, for generating elliptic curves for use in cryptosystems.
Number theory concerns the study of integer solutions to polynomial equations with integer coefficients. Solving such equations, in general, is challenging. They are studied by attaching various invariants-- function, quantity, or property, which remains unchanged when a specific transformation is applied.
A very classical, fruitful, and much-studied invariant is the L-function . Some of the deepest problems in modern number theory are concerned with proving exact formulae for the values of L-functions at integer points in terms of purely arithmetic objects. Professor Mahesh Kakde from the Department of Mathematics at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, one of the recipients of this year’s Swarna Jayanti fellowship instituted by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, concentrates on proving such exact formulae using various methods, including algebra, K-theory and the theory of modular forms.
Prof. Kakde’s recent work concentrates on proving conjectures made in the 1970s by the American mathematician Harold Stark postulating the existence of special elements related to leading terms of L-functions. With support from the Swarna Jayanti fellowship, Prof. Kakde proposes to use a completely novel method to prove deep relationships between different Stark elements. Such relationships have hitherto been only proven in very special cases, and in these cases, Stark conjectures are already known. He intends to turn this on its head and use results from their research along with the results on conjectures by mathematicians’ Armand Brumer, Benedict Gross, and Harold Stark called the Brumer—Stark conjecture and the Gross—Stark conjectures to prove new cases of Stark conjectures.
[For more details, Professor Mahesh Kakde  can be contacted.]
Vice President's Secretariat
Vice President Shri Dhankhar visits Statue of Unity at Kevadia, Gujarat
‘Eminently deserving tribute to the Iron Man and Unifier of Bharat’: Vice President
VP visits Sardar Sarovar Dam and Aarogya Van; Attends Rajasthan-Haryana Samman Samaroh
The Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar and Dr Sudesh Dhankhar, who are on their three-day maiden trip to Gujarat, today visited the ‘Statue of Unity’, a 182 metre tall monument dedicated to the ‘Unifier of India’, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at Kevadia.
Paying tributes to the ‘Iron Man of India’, the Vice President wrote in the visitors book -
“At the feet of the Statue of Unity- feeling blessed, invigorated, energised, inspired and motivated to be in service of Bharat.
Eminently deserving tribute to the Iron Man and Unifier of Bharat.
The Statue and the museum remind us of the historic accomplishments and the great sacrifices of the freedom fighter.
Urge all countrymen, especially the youth to visit the statue – a place of national pilgrimage – and be inspired by the life, vision, indefatigable stance and ideals of the Sardar.”
Shri and Smt. Dhankhar paid floral tributes at the feet of the Statue of Unity and took a tour of the various facilities developed near the monument, including the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Wall’, the museum cataloguing the life of Sardar Patel and the viewing gallery.
The Vice President also visited the Sardar Sarovar Dam and Arogya Van  at Kevadia. Later in the day, the Vice President attended a felicitation programme- ‘Rajasthan-Haryana Samaj Samman Samaroh’ in Surat.
Shri Acharya Devvrat, Governor of Gujarat, Shri Jagdish Panchal, Minister Protocol, Government of Gujarat, officials from the district administration and others were present during his visit to Kevadia.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
MoS Chandrasekhar to meet startups/innovators and students in Gujarat
Will focus on ‘New India for Young India: Techade of Opportunities’
Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar will leave for Gujarat tomorrow on a two-day visit, during which he will be interacting with startups entrepreneurs, experts from academia, industry and students.
The interactions would be focussing on the theme ‘New India for Young India :Techade of Opportunities’.
The Minister, who had been a chip designer and successful entrepreneur, had been holding Town halls, Round tables and fireside chats with the younger students, startups and innovators, all over India – and sharing with them the achievements of the Digital India programme and about Narendra Modi Government’s goals to make India the Skills hub for the world. Several of these programmes were earlier held in universities of Gujarat too.
Mr Chandrasekhar, who was born n Gujarat, had visited his home in Navrangpura area of Ahmedabad, during one of his previous visits.
Tomorrow’s visit is also part of promoting the PM Narendra Modi ji’s Digital India Programme and the New Approach to Skilling, with the stakeholders.
Mr Chandrasekhar will first visit Bharuch, where he will be taking part in a programme organised by several educational institutes at Omkarnath Hall and felicitate startups/innovators from these institutes.
Later in Surat, the Minister will be visiting the Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University and the Auro University where he has several engagements including the launch of a book titled “Integral Education and Its Practice”, and fireside chats with students.
Gujarat Minister of Education Jitubhai Vaghani will be accompanying the Minister during the visits to these educational institutions.
SD/GP/JD
સોશિયલ મીડિયા પર અમને ફોલો કરો : @PIBAhmedabad /pibahmedabad1964 /pibahmedabad pibahmedabad1964[at]gmail[dot]com
(Visitor Counter : 135
Ministry of Defence
Flagging in Ceremony of NCC Girls Expedition to Mt Tenchenkhang
All India National Cadet Corps  Girls’ Mountaineering Expedition 2019 to Mt Tenchenkhang was ‘Flagged In’ by Lt General Rajeev Chopra, Director General NCC here on June 27, 2019. The expedition team came back after successfully summiting Mt Tenchenkhang  in west Sikkim. This was the first ever NCC girls’ expedition organised in Sikkim Himalayas since 1970.
The expedition team was ‘Flagged Off’ on May 17, 2019 at Headquarters DG NCC, R K Puram here for Mt Tenchenkhang and was led by Lt Col Madhab Boro, expedition leader and Lt Col Suman Lata, Dy leader along with 17 X staff/GCIs and 20 girl cadets.
The team summited Mt Tenchenkhang on June 12, 2019 in spite of inclement weather and brought laurels to the NCC fraternity. The DG NCC appreciated the efforts put in by the expedition team and awarded certificates to the girl cadets who successfully undertook this expedition. He exhorted them that this adventure trip should make them confident to take on more of such activities and these activities bring out the qualities of leadership & camaraderie in the cadets. He appreciated that Mt Tenchenkhang is graded as A plus peak in terms of technical difficulty and despite all challenges the cadets were able to summit the peak.
On their way back to Delhi while in Gangtok, Governor of Sikkim Shri Ganga Prasad also lauded and felicitated the team for the commendable feat.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
INCREASE IN MALNUTRITION DURING CORONA PERIOD
To ensure continuous nutritional support to the beneficiaries, the Anganwadi Workers and Helpers distributed Supplementary Nutrition at the doorsteps of beneficiaries once in 15 days during Covid-19 as all Anganwadi Centres across the country were closed to limit the impact of the pandemic. In addition, Anganwadi Workers and Helpers also assisted the local administration in community surveillance, creating awareness as well as other work assigned to them from time to time.
Government has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition and is implementing several schemes like Anganwadi Services, Scheme for Adolescent Girls and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana  under the Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services  Scheme as direct targeted interventions to address the problem of malnutrition in the country.
Details of funds spent under POSHAN Abhiyaan and ICDS Scheme from FY 2018-19 to FY 2020-21.
Amount in ₹ lakhs
|
|
Total Central Funds released from FY 2018-19 to FY 2020-21
|
|
POSHAN Abhiyaan
|
|
ICDS scheme
|
|
4,66,824.8
|
|
26,10,031.55
The schools remain closed for the major part of 2020-21 in most of the States as a precautionary measure to contain the spreading of Corona virus among the children. Keeping in view the legal entitlements of children under National Food Security Act , 2013 and directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, the Department of School Education & Literacy, issued the following advisories to States and UTs to provide Food Security Allowance, comprising of food grains, dry ration of pulses, oil etc.  to enable children to meet their nutritional requirement in order to safe guard their immunity: -
- Advisory on provision of Food Security Allowance  comprising of food grains and cooking cost during closure of schools was issued on 20th March, 2021.
- Advisory along with guidelines for providing FSA even during summer vacations as a one-time special measure considering the extraordinary circumstances was issued on 29th April, 2020.
- Advisory on continued provision of FSA comprising of food grains and pulses, oil etc.  till the time schools are open was issued on 31st July, 2020.
Government of India fully supported the States and UTs in providing the Food Security Allowance and released Rs. 12882.11 crore to States and UTs as central assistance as per the extant sharing pattern. Further, 34.45 lakh MT food grains were allocated to States and UTs. In addition to this, States and UTs have also provided their minimum mandatory share of about Rs. 5826.96 crore. About, 11.80 crore children have benefited under the scheme studying in 11.20 lakh school during 2020-21.
This information was given by the Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
PIB Headquarters
Dak Adalat – Postal Services
It is proposed to conduct DAK ADALAT on 29.10.2019 at 1500 hours at Anna Road HPO, Chennai 600002. The members of the public are requested to send their grievances, if any regarding Postal services  availed at AnnaRoad HPO, Chennai 600002, either in person or by post or through email at doannaroadhpo.tn@indiapost.gov.in, with the caption DAK ADALAT , on or before 26.10.2019. They may also attend the DakAdalat in person on 29.10.2019 at 1500 hours, according to a press release issued by Shri. V. Kanagarajan, Chief Postmaster, Anna Road HPO. Chennai 600 002.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries
Roundtable of Secretary, FPI with industry associations/business chambers/IPAs/Trade agencies on the activities related to Mega Food Event 2023
Secretary, FPI, Smt Anita Praveen chaired a roundtable interaction with international industry associations / business chambers / trade agencies on the activities related to Mega Food Event 2023 on Thursday, 12th January 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, New Delhi. This was the fourth session in the series of roundtable interactions that are being held with key stakeholders such as major agri-food companies, resident commissioners of States and UTs, Central Ministries and Departments, and other relevant stakeholders. The roundtable witnessed participation from representatives of 13 countries.
During the keynote address, Secretary, FPI informed the participants that the Mega Food Event will be organized between 03rd to 05th November 2023 in New Delhi. She encouraged the participants to share their inputs and expectations from the Mega Food Event which will provide opportunities for all stakeholders from farm to fork such as processors, equipment manufacturers, technology providers, start-up innovators, etc.
All the participants were keen on partnering with the Ministry and supporting them with various activities planned as a precursor to the Mega Food Event 2023. Some of the suggestions / feedback given by the participants included showcasing global cuisine through a curated Food Street, buyer–seller meets, joint promotional activities for better outreach and harnessing mutual gains, etc.
Secretary, FPI urged the attendees to support the Ministry in ensuring active participation of global companies in the agri-food sector, policy makers and experts to make the event a grand success.
International associations /business chambers were also encouraged to leverage their network and extend additional support via combined promotional activities through the upcoming events planned by respective agencies.
Further, the Investment Facilitation Cell  was directed to connect with all the participants to share further information about the Mega Event as well as explore possible areas of collaboration.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Ministry of I&B and Prasar Bharati gear up for Bharat Parv 2021
Bharat Parv, a mega event is organized every year to coincide with the republic Day Celebrations. The event envisages generating patriotic fervor and showcases the rich and varied cultural diversity of the country. Bharat Parv 2021 scheduled from January 26 – 31, 2021 will be organized on a virtual platform by Ministry of Tourism, due to Covid pandemic situation. The Virtual platform will include theme pavilion for States, UT’s and various Ministries. The overall theme of Bharat Parv will also be focused towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat.
Prasar Bharati, the National Broadcaster plays significant role towards promoting cultural diversity and national integration. Prasar Bharati has also set up its stall on virtual platform of Bharat Parv and will also showcase its efforts towards Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat through highlights of some of its programmes. A glimpse of Virtual Stall is as provided below.
Publications Division will participate in the first Virtual "Bharat Parv 2021" echoing the theme of विरासत शब्दों की, भाव भारतीयता का. Celebrating the diversity and spirit of India, DPD's Virtual pavilion will exhibit a rich display of books on Art & culture, history and heritage, biographies of Builders of Modern India as also books from 'Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat' series.
Being one of the prominent publishers of books on Gandhian thought, Publications Division will also display select titles on Mahatma Gandhi. Visitors will be able to browse through books on speeches of President, Vice President and Prime Minister and also on diverse subjects including children’s literature, national freedom movement, Rashtrapati Bhawan series among others.
In addition to showcasing its books, Publications Division will also display its four monthly journals, Yojana, Kurukshetra, Aajkal and Bal Bharati and its weekly journal Employment News. These journals of Publications Division serve as a forum of discussion on development issues and are useful for citizens and other stakeholders to get a national perspective on key initiatives of the Government of India.
Bureau of Outreach Communication is bringing content from Exhibition on 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi to this edition of Bharat Parv. This will consist of photos, videos, animation and quiz with regard to the exhibition on the theme of ‘Swachch Bharat, Sashakt Bharat, Bapu ke Sapno Ka Bharat’. Video and motion animation on Mahatma Gandhi in the cut-out of India on the theme of ‘India of My Dreams’ with quotes of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi highlighting various milestones achieved by the Government of India under ‘Sankalp se Sidhi tak’ will also be part of the display. Rare footage on various milestones in the life Mahatma Gandhi and photos and short videos/ snippets of 50th IFFI will comprise the rest of the display.
Website for Bharat Parv 2021 www.bharatparv2021.com
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
Payroll Reporting in India – A Formal Employment Perspective
The National Statistical Office , Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the press note on Employment Outlook of the country covering the period September, 2017 to May, 2023 based on the administrative records available with selected government agencies to assess the progress in certain dimensions.
A detailed note is annexed.